Arc 2: Into the Flask

Disclaimer: Nisio Isin owns Medaka Box and its characters.

Chapter 7 – Medaka Door

"How's the date, Kurokami-chan?"

Beside the door of the Student Council's office, Nabeshima was coolly leaning on the wall. Instead of a worn out jersey like the rest of the Student Council, not including Zenkichi, she was wearing the Hakoniwa Academy's female uniform, pristine and clean as though she never went through a hellish training. Zenkichi could even smell the fragrant aroma of soap and shampoo, tickling his nose.

"Nabeshima-senpai, don't tell me that the reason you never went with us is because you just wanted to change?" Kikaijima said while blushing, seemingly frequent in recent days, giving the cat-like girl an accusing stare.

"Ku ku ku, a woman must always look beautiful." Giving Zenkichi a wink, Nabeshima combed her hair with a hand with a poise of a super model.

"Captain... you're embarrassing me." Akune closed his eyes and face-palmed, exasperated and tired from the earlier encounter with Oudo.

"What bad junior you are, Akune-kun..." Smiling, Nabeshima removed herself from the wall and stood in front of the group, one hand on her hips while the other gestured towards herself—a cute action that Zenkichi couldn't help but blush to.

"Senior Nabeshima, it has been decided that the Student Council will destroy the Flask Plan." Medaka, now a girl with purpose, went directly to the point of the matter, denying more attempts to steer the talk to a good-natured discussion.

"Oh?" Nabeshima opened her eyes, her irises sharpened like a cat, showing how serious she was, eager to hear the details and ready to combat any threat. "So a fight is inevitable... Tell me, what is really this Flask Plan that you try to vehemently oppose it, Kurokami-chan?"

Medaka explained their encounter with Oudo and the additional information about the goals of the Flask Plan; how it would affect the general populace of Hakoniwa Academy and the world. She never skipped in her story telling, every movement and every turn described in such detail.

With a very serious face, after Medaka's storytelling, Nabeshima turned to Zenkichi. It made him nervous, and somewhat scared, as it was rare to see her like this.

Tension was palpable in the air.

Moments later of her just staring at him, she spoke, "Rider kick? Seriously?"

Zenkichi almost fell to the floor at that question, while Akune and Kikaijima snickered beside him. "What!? It's not like I could shout, 'Inazuma Kick!' when I'm wearing this two!" he said as he pointed at the mask that was still on the side of his head and the belt that he had.

"Ku ku ku, you've got a point there. Still, I really regret not being able to see that arrogant guy getting hit by such an attack."

"Yeah, thinking back, it was really funny."

"But it was inappropriate given how serious the situation was."

Akune and Kikaijima commented respectively at what Nabeshima said.

"Feh... That's all that you could point out! What about the name that I thought out? Kamen Rider Dio!" Zenkichi did a pose, one hand up and another down, crossed to each other, with proud grin on his face.

"Pretentious worm, as if you're awesome enough to don the name of the great Dio!" It turned out that Akune was another Jojo fan.

Still, dissing him just because he used that name.

Unacceptable!

"What did you say, you Fake Prince!?"

"Enough. We have a lot to do today. Let us make haste." Medaka interceded, hurrying for them to move forward, and to start their excursion against the 13 Party.

"Of course, Medaka-san!"

"Un."

"Okay."

"I'll be joining you guys."

Akune, Kikaijima, Zenkichi, and Nabeshima said respectively, agreeing with her. Though in Zenkichi's case, he was just glad that the nonsensical argument was cut off before it could escalate into another pretentious Jojo power-level debate.

Entering the room, Medaka suddenly removed the upper part of her jersey, making Zenkichi and Akune beside him blush madly, while Nabeshima just stared bewildered. Kikaijima even panicked as she pushed the male half of the group outside to preserve the President's modesty.

"We got kicked out."

"Medaka-san is really amazing."

"Shut up, Akune-senpai. I don't want to hear you gush again. It sickens me."

"At least I'm not as bad as you, you serial pervert."

Zenkichi and Akune were squatting in front of the door, waiting for the girls to finish.

"You know, this is just like middle-school, chilling out in front of a convenience store after classes." Zenkichi remembered that one time in the past, after that debacle with that particular guy ended. Akune and him met in front of a convenience store and ended up talking about things, arguing about things. It was something out of a delinquent manga, old enemies ended up being bros with each, just lazing out the time while reading some Jump.

"Heh, I remembered you dyed your hair black back then. Really ugly."

"Shut you trap, my hairstyle was cool, like a boss."

In those times, Zenkichi managed to gather underlings, delinquents that hated Akune, with a goal of creating a group to protect Medaka and spark his reputation up in school.

Thinking back, it was really juvenile of him.

"Boss of useless chumps."

He had to admit, those guys we're really useless. They just ran when Medaka kicked him unconscious with just one kick.

"Hmph!"

Both of them were staring at the open window in front of them, gazing upon the swaying trees and the slowly moving morning clouds.

"How did you managed to do it, walking on the wall."

"Didn't Miyakonojou-senpai already explain the details?"

It was not really the same, for Zenkichi had to use his skills to do it. With [Light Feet] to make himself lighter and [Hyperion Switch], activated after his awesome kick on Oudo, to increase his physical prowess to go against gravity by digging his feet unto the concrete wall, he managed to replicate such a feat, as for that minor mishap with his first encounter with Oudo—that was something entirely different of nature.

"Heee..." Akune nodded to himself, convinced, and then changed the topic. "I heard you disappeared more than half a year last school-year."

"I just had an epiphany, you know, journey to find oneself and all that."

"Hm? From what I could remember, that evil little best friend of yours said that you went on a training trip at the start of last year's summer break."

"Yeah, that too..."

"I think I could understand."

For if I was in your position, I would do the same to keep up with her, said Akune.

"Yeah."

"Say, how can you call that blue-haired devilish sprite your best friend?"

Was it 'interrogate Zenkichi' day? He never received a memo.

However, a safe question is in need of a safe answer.

"Hey, she's cute, and when you get to know her, she's pretty awesome," Zenkichi said what he really thought of Shiranui. Even describing her as cute and awesome girl would be downplaying it.

"Hmm... You've gotten really strong." Akune again changed subjects.

And what's with the blushing?

"Are you turning gay on me or something? I've got no problem with those types, but you know..."

"N-no! What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Hey, I'm just asking."

Akune sighed, calming himself.

"People change, that I know... But this much in such a short time? What happened to you?"

I think this is enough.

"I think the girls are already finished."

"Wait..."

They then heard the mechanical sound the door unlocking, making Akune stop talking. A second later, the door opened, making them stand up. On the other side of the door was Nabeshima, gesturing for them that it's now alright to come in. They complied.

Zenkichi could see that Kikaijima was back to her regular uniform.

As for Medaka, she was now donning an educator's look: a pair of eyeglasses, a red long-sleeved shirt with a white over-coat, still wearing the armbands denoting council positions, a black miniskirt, and red high-heeled shoes. The look almost made Zenkichi spill unnecessary blood. She was behind her desk, in front of her was the 'Medaka Box', opened with its contents spilling and haphazardly displayed.

Zenkichi approached the table and took one of the familiar request letters. "A complaint?" He then took another one and another and another, reading each. "All of them are either complaints or petitions against Class 13."

"Natural. The Class 13 students that usually don't appear in the academy came to school at the same time. Even I am irritated with all their arrogance and strutting as though they own the campus," Nabeshima gave her opinion while sitting on a vacant chair.

"It is foolish to think otherwise, Zenkichi. Of course, there would be disorder. I know this may sound hypocritical from me, but it is already known that these guys don't have common knowledge," said Medaka as she continued to read the letters.

"I heard from Onigase-san that even the Enforcers are having a tough time." Kikaijima raised her hand as she gave her input to the meeting.

"Right, Treasurer Kikaijima. Not just their uniforms, all the guys from Class 13 don't follow even the basic rules. A class full of troublemakers. And all those guys are trying to get into the Flask Plan. Thinking about it, the Flask Plan isn't a secret at all. With just Senior Unzen being decommissioned, a huge stir was caused. Seriously! I never thought that my strip fixation would cause such problems."

"That's one of the reasons, Kurokami-chan, but let's not forget that all of this started because our resident pervert decided to play stranger with the older sister of the Head Enforcer," Nabeshima said as she grinned at Zenkichi.

"Um... Sorry?"

Zenkichi saw the group sigh at the same time, making him feel bad about himself.

Myouga-chan is a pseudo-lolita wearing a maid dress! How can I not ignore that! He wanted to shout his thoughts like the man who declared his love in the center of the earth. However, he did otherwise, as it would only spell more trouble for him.

"What's done is done, and we should not condone that event since it made us a new friend in the form of Myouga-san. Still, if we don't do something about this now, classes won't be able to go as planned," Kikaijima said.

"That was my plan from the get go! And now that I have the constituents' approval as well. Everyone, let's go to that underground laboratory under the clock tower!" Medaka was rearing to go, but Akune dampened her excitement as he reminded them of the absent lolita duo.

"Umm... Medaka-san, I'm fine with going and all, but what about Shiranui-san and Unzen-san. Aren't you going to call them too?"

"Zenkichi?"

"Shiranui won't come... she said she had something important to do today. Somewhere along the lines of welcoming important guests or something. As for Myouga-chan... she'll come, that I'm sure of."

"Good. Now then! In response to those complaints in the suggestion box, it's time for the Student Council to move!"

-000-

Hakoniwa Clock Tower was a thirteen-story infrastructure, an oddly fitting number, and a famous monument of the Academy. It was shaped like very large pole made of concrete sticking up from the ground, far from the usual image of a said structure which is usually of classical western design like that of the famous Big Ben. Now that Zenkichi thought about it, he really did a very stupid thing of kicking Miyakonojou-senpai off the top of such a tall building. Yes, he hates him, but killing him in such a way was just... sad... well, baring his lust for his death in his angered state of course.

Approaching the monument-like building, its presence was slowly getting more overwhelming at each step.

"Zenkichi-kun, will Unzen-chan be coming?" Nabeshima asked about Myouga, again, breaking the silence and the tension within the group.

"You shouldn't worry about her, she will come."

"I think it would be better for her not to come since she didn't receive any training from Maguro-san. I know she's strong, but it takes a different kind of strength to face the 13 Party," Nabeshima added.

Zenkichi could see her point as she said that, and a thought came to him. Nabeshima-senpai, you're treating them, us, as your friends already... And he was glad that in all of this craziness, good things were happening, even if they were sporadic in comparison to the bad.

"Schoolmate Unzen had her own training, I heard so from my brother," Medaka said, facing forward.

Crap! Was she there!? Inwardly panicking at his blunder for not noticing Medaka when he talked to her elder brother, Zenkichi gulped some saliva. I'm getting careless.

"Training?" Kikaijima asked for further clarification.

"She was trained by Shiranui," Medaka answered.

"Wait... That evil little minx? How?" Akune asked next, surprised.

"I do not know. It is what my brother said."

"Zenkichi-kun?" Nabeshima turned to ask him.

"Beats me. Even if she's my best friend, it's not like I know everything about her." A complete and utter lie. Barring him in his unsealed form, she was currently the strongest in the Academy, significantly more so than the still incomplete Medaka. It is a fact that her mere presence was a looming threat to the general population of the school. One could even say that she's like an activated nuke ready to detonate at any second with him as the only one who can prevent it.

And it's all my fault.

"She will come when she wills it. For now, let us go." Medaka ordered.

Entering the imposing structure, a mechanical double-door bearing the stylized initials of H and N dawned upon them. In front were a pair of identical twins with contrasting color schemes, one was white, and the other was black, with their bangs covering one of their eyes, each.

"Welcome!" greeted the two in chorus.

"I'm the Student Council President, Medaka Kurokami," Medaka introduced herself as she approached them. "Are you two part of the 13 Party?"

"No, no. We're just guards is all," the white themed twin said.

"We're your average Abnormals," both said at the same time.

"So ignore us and go on with your business," followed by the black themed twin.

"But of course, that's only if you can get past this Door of Rejection," both of them chorused as they gestured to the door behind them, specifically, towards the electronic lock.

They were cheeky, too cheeky for Zenkichi's taste. For just self-titled guards, they were arrogant. Will every Abnormal be just like this? He thought. He even cringed when he heard the pretentious name, Door of Rejection. As far as Zenkichi could attest, it's just one of those fancy metal doors he usually sees on television, like the ones in those spy movies.

Seeing the unneeded hindrance, Medaka took a piece of paper from inside of her coat. "I have here a proof that I have been granted permission to enter the Clock Tower."

Wait... when did she manage to get that? It boggled Zenkichi's mind since he had never seen her go to the faculty since their encounter with Oudo. Then again, this was Medaka, so he chalked it up as something she prepared after he left them to train with Maguro.

The twins only grinned at Medaka's action.

"That thing is only valid above ground. Underground is a place of different set of rules," said arrogantly by the twin with the all-white scheme which was followed by his twin, with the other end of the spectrum of colors as his color-scheme, sporting a similar arrogant demeanor, "Anything that happens here and anything that will happen, normal school rules cannot be applied. You will have to follow our rules if you want to advance." The two then chorused as they flamboyantly waved their hands towards the electronic lock. "As you can see, your path is obstructed by this door that can only be unlocked with a 6-digit code. Thus, only the person who gets the right code can enter! And once that person enters the code changes!"

This was like one those old adventure movies, with a twist. Next thing he knows, the code to open the door was a hexadecimal conversion of open sesame. Then again, the chance of that happening was almost astronomical.

"It is a 1 in a 1 million chance!" the twins continued. "That's why it is called the Door of Rejection. You could even say that this very door separates those who are worthy to take part in the Flask Plan and those that do not!"

One in a million chance... Zenkichi groaned. Where's Mogura when I need her. Then again, it was quite impressive for Oudo and his fellow members of the 13 Party, including the Head Enforcer with the psychotic grin, to do such a troublesome thing every day.

"... In other words, you are saying that only Abnormals can pass?"

"Tsk tsk tsk." The twins of contrasting color schemes waggled their fingers, faces showing how they were looking down at Medaka and her interpretation of their words. "What you said is a little off," started the one with the white hair. "We are part of Class 13 and even we can't get past this door." Both of them then chorused, "You can say that our level as Abnormals is insufficient." And the one with the black hair then followed, "Only those that are Abnormal even by Abnormal standards can pass through this door, and even then, only the basement of the Hakoniwa Clock Tower would greet you."

"..." Medaka turned around to look at her comrades, with him last, for a moment. Was she confirming something? Zenkichi could not figure out. "Fine then, when in Rome and all that, right? I'll go along with your little farce."

Medaka approached the electronic lock. "This little number game won't prove anything, but I guess it's just the human love of probability." She then pressed the buttons in such speeds as though she was not even thinking through the number code that she had inputted. "One in a million chance? If you consider the number of humans currently living in this world, such probability is inconsequential for I am one in six billion!" At that impressive declaration, Medaka finished pressing the buttons, opening the mechanical door and surprising the pretentious twin guards, mouths open.

"This is what you wanted right?" Medaka faced the twins, who were still bewildered. "I'm going through now." She then turned to look at her group. "Akune, Kikaijima, Nabeshima... and Zenkichi, "I'll be waiting in the other side. I'm sure you guys could easily open this door. Just do it like you are entering your pin number in an ATM." Then she smiled, even when she was facing Zenkichi, making him feel relieved. "Zenkichi, you're a Leo right? The morning horoscope said that Leos' should take lead today."

The last bit from Medaka confused Zenkichi... Why would she even speak of his horoscope? Maybe it's a girl thing. However, looking around, Zenkichi could see Kikaijima and Nabeshima grin their own grins while Akune smiled knowingly. Is there some hidden meaning? He could only scratch his head, as he was somewhat weak with such things... unless... well... in certain circumstances.

"That was surprising. She passed through that ridiculously low probability like it was nothing. But what really surprised me is that she did it without hesitation," the twin with the white uniform said, then, they began to speak at the same time, "An undeniable proof that she is an Abnormal Abnormal. Now we understand why the Chairman wants her."

Abnormal Abnormal? Is it like the squared of Abnormal? Crazy people with their weird use of words. Not that he didn't experience such thing in the past for he knows that words had power in them, painfully instilled into him with his experiences. Not that it would stop him from giving quips on such things, even if it's just inside his head.

"Now then, how about your turn," said the twin in black followed by the twin in white, "Mister 13 Party Leader candidate!"

"13 Party Leader?"

"What are you talking about?"

Nabeshima and Kikaijima asked respectively as their eyes widened in shock.

Okay... got to act natural... "Y-yeah..." Crap, I stuttered!

"We are talking about you, Zenkichi Hitoyoshi!" the twins said at the same time, each pointing a hand towards him.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Are you in cahoots with them?"

"Hitoyoshi! Are you betraying us!?"

At those questions from Kikaijima, Nabeshima, and Akune, Zenkichi shrugged, inwardly panicking like a colony of ants being flooded by water. Cornered, without thinking much of his next action, he spun a finger on the side of his head as he pointed his other hand at the tattletale twins.

Please make it work!

"Hey! We're not crazy!" the twin with white hair said followed by his contrasting twin who said, "It's true! We heard that you got offered a position as the 13 Party Leader and you turned it down!"

Yes!

"Well that's a relief. Here I thought for a second you're the secret final boss."

"Ku ku ku, that would be a twist."

"I'm thankful that there will be no betrayal."

… Those were scary thoughts.

And somehow, they made sense.

"But if you got offered with such a position, likely higher than that of Miyakonojou-senpai, thus this means that you are stronger than him?" Kikaijima asked.

"I really don't know... Maybe they ate something weird for them to offer it to me."

The group just stared suspiciously at him, so to dodge an inevitable interrogation; he used one of his most effective techniques, changing the topic haphazardly.

"Medaka-chan is waiting in the other side, we must make haste." Zenkichi then hurriedly walked towards the door, the electronic lock now reachable. "Hmm..." He stared at it, narrowing his eyes to concentrate. He then pressed his ear on it while knocking on the metal door near the lock.

"That is not a safe, Zenkichi-kun," said Nabeshima, one of her eyes twitching.

"Huh? So what?"

"It's electronic you know, as if you could hear every current and how they would affect the circuit." Nabeshima face-palmed as she sighed.

"Really? Damn..." He hopes that skit made them loosen up their guard against him.

"He he, you seem to misunderstand, you can challenge the door as many times you want until you lose the will to continue," the twin in white said after he laughed.

"Hey! Why didn't you say it before!?" Seriously, if they offer a challenge, they should at least say all the rules pertaining to it. It's common courtesy. Otherwise, it would not be fair. Then again, who was he to judge the fairness of things?

"Ha ha, you're really funny. Even so, the chances are still the same. I now doubt the Chairman's evaluation of you. The Door of Rejection has only one trick, those that can unlock it, can, while those that can't, well you know where we're getting at, a sort of classification if you will. Those that can't get it in the first try are Normals. In other words, those that try to overcome it by repetition and determination are losers. It seems that this leader position is just another word for clown. A ha ha ha!" the twin in black said with a sneer on his face.

"How about I try it?" Kikaijima proposed, raising her hand.

"Of course. It really doesn't matter how many people would try," the twins chorused, confident that no one would be as successful of getting through the door like Medaka. "Regardless if you're Normal, or Special, if you can pass through this door, we'll welcome-"

Nevertheless, before they could even finish, they heard the sounds of footsteps, small and light basing from the frequency, approaching their position. It was their much-awaited last member of their excursion, Myouga Unzen.

"Myouga-chan!"

"Unzen-san!"

Her modified uniform was quite ragged, her long skirt shredded and was now reminiscent of a skirt, and her sleeves were absent, obviously torn away. However, what earned Zenkichi's attention was the absence of her six pairs of ball and chains.

"6986262904624624796249499494 9459 (I don't understand the situation, but I can conclude that your progress is being hindered by that steel door.)"

The group turned to Zenkichi for interpretation, in which he gladly did, and after that, all them nodded at Myouga.

"6451571371398 (Then let me fix that.)" Myouga walked towards the door, apathetically staring at it. She then cocked an arm back and punched. She punched through the large metal double-door easily as if she was just punching through Styrofoam, breaking it into half horizontally with the broken pieces blown inside, flying, and almost hitting Medaka, who just stood inside, never moving an inch.

"13561356019750947375309 (You wasted my effort of giving them a clue, Schoolmate Unzen.)"

"2907676244406 (It doesn't matter. We can all pass.)

"2690876290671077246429 (I know. I approve of your action.)

The others just bewildered, mouths open, at such incredible show of strength from Myouga.

Good job, Shiranui.

"But we went through a door and another bars our oath."

Zenkichi stared to the door Medaka was referring. "Fuh... It's just a regular old elevator door."

"It goes straight to the final floor, inversely also the first floor of the underground, floor 13." Recovering from their earlier shock, the twins gave the specifics of the said elevator door.

Classy, 13 floors up and 13 floors down, Zenkichi said inwardly as he rolled his eyes.

"But this isn't like the previous door, for this time you have to enter the right combination of Kanji and Hiragana – a much more miniscule probability bordering to impossible," the twins continued, arrogantly.

Why do these 13 Party guys make things so damn complicated? Zenkichi could even compare it to eating crab where one has to get messy to eat the meat. Damn hard to eat food. He could even remember burning his hands while eating a freshly cooked one.

"This is getting old. I had enough," said Medaka, annoyed.

"5613... 56135655 (A door... I can break it.)" Myouga suggested, spinning her arm like a windmill to get ready for another door wrecking.

"54269024777864946204 (It is not necessary, there are stairs, we will take them to get down.)"

Myouga turned to Zenkichi for confirmation of Medaka's decision, which he gave with a brief nod.

"You have shortcut in the form of an abnormally strong girl and you plan to take the stairs?" said the white-haired twin.

"You will have to go through the whole layout of every floor," said the black-haired twin.

The edgy twins do have a point.

"Fine by me! In fact, punching trough the walls and using such crude shortcuts would defeat our purpose of coming here! We're going to check and know everything about the Flask Plan."

To prove that shortcuts are not everything, that hard work works, said Medaka.

Zenkichi remembered saying the same thing to Nabeshima. However, thinking back on it, it was stupid of him to say such things; he, who can never experience the concept of hard work, again.

Moreover, Medaka-chan, the same thing applies to you.

-000-

"What was that!? He should have just went and screwed with everybody!"

"Language, Momo. And its Zenkichi-sama, you should already know that he's like that," said Kakegae with an air of a princess that she styles herself.

"I know." Trying to compose herself, Momo took a metal bar and bit through it. "And I don't like it."

The monitors were now functioning with the largest one in the middle focusing on Zenkichi's lazy face.

"Backing out now? Not that I care because I'll be the first in his heart."

"Shut up." They could hear Momo's every bite through metal, though muffled when she chews it. "I don't want to hear your usual grandstanding Mogura."

"U fu fu fu, but you should be." Mogura grinned as she casually hinted on one of her abilities.

"Shit."

"Language Momo. Remember, she can't use it on Zenkichi-sama directly."

"O ho ho, you girls are really enjoyable to watch," said Hansode's grandfather while smiling at their general direction.

"Hmph."

"Thanks!"

"I'm grateful for such praise."

Momo, Mogura and Kakegae gave their response, respectively.

Hansode was sitting on a chair near the others, eating another feast as she watched the proceeding arguments between the girls and the happenings shown in the monitors.

"Hmm, as expected of a Kurokami. That girl chose a more difficult road over the easy one," commented Sui, the light coming from the monitors reflecting on her small pair of glasses.

"I expected nothing less from Medaka-san," added by her grandfather.

"She did have a point, schecking every floor to evaluate the purposhe of the Flashk Plan," said Joutou with her usual lisp while staring at the monitors with a critical eye, belying her current get up that was similar to the bimbos Hansode would usually see on Japanese television.

"That too, still, the number of the group is greater than I expected. Two Abnormals, three Specials and one monster."

Oh no you did not grandpa.

Her Grandfather suddenly choked on what he was drinking as the tension in the room suddenly increased, almost warping the surroundings into something foreign, the strangling sensation so thick that one could cut through it with a fruit knife.

Even if he was her grandfather, Hansode could not ignore such an unforgivable thing. The same could be said towards Oudo, and all the others that called Zenkichi that, but since he was there, she herself could not take action. In actuality, she herself wanted to storm towards the underground laboratory and beat the life out of the pompous bastard, and she was sure that the same could be said with the other girls.

But... things must be done... steps must be taken... for him... to wake up...

To wake up in his denial.

The Chairman's body was now shaking as he stared at them, horrified.

"Do not call him that." They all said at the same time with threatening inhuman voices.

Hansode's grandfather nodded with much difficulty, and after he did, the choking sensation disappeared, traces of it now absent in the minimalistic room. He then coughed and then wiped the saliva and tea from his lips with a white piece of cloth taken from inside his clothes.

"Hitoyoshi-kun did warn me; maybe this was one of them."

"Sorry grandpa, but please don't call him like that in front of us."

"O ho ho ho, noted." He was now back to his usual scheming self, showing that he really is her grandfather.

"Well then, let's continue!" said Hansode.

Namanie then raised her hand. "... Can I talk next?"

"Huh?"

"... The balance of the party she took into this dungeon is quite uneven..." Namanie huffed and puffed, proud of what she had said, though her face continued being gloomy.

"Huh... Okay." Hansode decided to chalk it up as her being her usual self.

"Nienami-san is right. It wasn't much of a guess that those that encountered Miyakonojou-kun would join the party, but I didn't expect for Akune-kun and Kikaijima-san to tag along. What are you planning Sode-chan?"

"It's not me grandpa. Zenkichi wanted them to come."

"Well, that is also fine. The more risks there are, the more chances that he would come out of his shell, and for the exceptional guinea pig, Medaka-san, to come to my side."

"Do you really think the Flask Plan would survive this?"

"The 13 Party, no, but the Flask Plan will surely continue."

"Confident are we?"

"Of course. And I'm quite thankful for Miyakonojou-kun's careless actions the other day. Thanks to him, things have begun to progress faster than I expected. Today might even be the day that the Flask Plan would progress to the direction that it was meant to be."

"You shouldn't think of the other four as hindrance grandpa."

"Hansode-san is right. They were made to be trained by Maguro-san, by Zenkichi... Thinking about it, how's the training with that Hyperion girl?" asked Momo with a hint of interest.

"A hya hya hya, absolutely fun!"

"Poor girl," Kakegae said covering her grin with her gloved hands

"Say, when would Kamome-san arrive?" Mogura asked, curious of the whereabouts of the only male of the current generation of the branch families.

"I doubt it. He's currently with Anshin'in right now doing god knows what," answered Hansode.

"Why are we talking about him anyway, we should focus on the topic at hand," said Sui.

"Hey, I'm curious as to what Medaka Kurokami said about a clue," said Mogura while playing with a screwdriver.

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

At that question from the tomboy, Namanie and Joutou began think.

"Sigh... The code of that door after the Kurokami girl's entrance was Zenkichi's birthday," Momo said, finished with her metal snack.

"Oh... so that's why she said Leo," said Mogura spinning the screwdriver on one finger.

"Why did you ask when you already know the answer?"

"A good conversationalist tries to lengthen the discussion."

"I don't get you." Momo rested her back on the sofa, tired of such conversation with the seemingly immature girl.

"But how did the Kurokami girl managed to do that, Abnormality?" asked Kakegae.

"Let's borrow Anshin'in's way of analysis," Hansode started after she had finished with a large piece of ham. "Medaka Kurokami is what would you call a main character, and with main characters, there would be plot armor, the universe working its way on twisting coincidences to his or her advantage. You could liken it to a Gundam pilot where his mobile suit was last seen exploding in a huge mess conflagration, but somehow surviving the great ordeal. Therefore, even if Kikaijima had punched the code next, the set of numbers would return to Zenkichi's birthday, regardless. Even if repeated, the code would be same, repeatedly."

"In other words?"

"In other words, her abnormality makes the coincidences around fall into place so that it would be advantageous to her. A sort of Mary Sue field..."

"Is that all?"

"There's more... but let's just discuss them as they come, okay?"

"Then what about Zenkichi?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

-000-

"By the way, can you become my interpreter, Zenkichi? I will ask Schoolmate Unzen some questions and I want everybody to understand us," said Medaka after they took the stairs.

"Hm? I don't mind, Medaka-chan."

The walls were made of hard concrete, devoid of soothing colors as though their very purpose was to make those that pass them break down in too much stress.

"0347319054369513553 (Schoolmate Myouga, it seems that you don't need those limiters of yours anymore.)"

It was noticeable since usually, one would hear the dragging sound of dull metal when walking with Myouga. But now, she didn't have those cumbersome things, her every step now light and free.

"5986575843798670695842226 (Yes. Master Shiranui trained me so that I could control my strength and my energy usage.)" Myouga said with much respect. In other words, Shiranui was so effective of a teacher to do so.

"06109713591356... 81354375732 (That's impressive... and only in one night.)"

"6891365307602496742674276092 476249560 524952454130713... (Master Shiranui is an effective taskmaster. She even wanted me to learn regular Japanese since I don't need to wear the limiters anymore, but since it was only one night...)

Really good of a teacher. I hope that Myouga would learn the regular language for her to make more friends.

"6135491354601103547724960724 9624692462460? (Teaching effectiveness almost the same level as my brother. Tell me, how did she do it?)"

Myouga stopped walking and crouched in her own, then and there, shivering while muttering unintelligible words. It seemed that Shiranui had employed too effective of a measure for her training.

"651095724096? (She's that scary huh?)" Zenkichi went to traumatized girl and gently patted her head, which Myouga gladly accepted, stopping her shivering. However, at that action, Zenkichi saw Medaka narrow her eyes then turn away.

"Okay, that's enough mushy stuff." Nabeshima took reluctant Myouga's hands then pulled her up, and then gesturing for Kikaijima to come with her.

"You're really getting popular lately, Zenkichi?" Akune said beside him.

"Huh?"

"And getting denser too."

"What!?"

"But enough of that, say, Zenkichi, you've met the rest of the 13 Party right?"

"Well, yeah... pretty unique of a menagerie if you ask me."

"What do you think... can we take them on?" Akune asked casually.

"The Prince of Judo losing confidence? Am I lost in an alternate universe?"

"Stop joking, Hitoyoshi, I'm asking you seriously here."

"You've been trained by one of the best trainers in this world. What's more to ask? I'm sure you can kick their ass."

"... Punch me."

"Huh?"

"Just do it."

"If your fan girls attack me, it will be your entire fault you know. Well here goes." Zenkichi did a punch, though weaker than usual since it was not augmented by any skill, but he was sure that it would hit Akune. However, Akune dodge it in the very last second with minimal movement.

"See? You guys have been trained to your limits by Maguro, making sure that optimum movements would just be of second nature. That is enough."

"I know..." Akune grinned with a determined face. "Okay, it's decided. As we go down these floors, likely to run into the 13 Party, I'm going to jump straight at them and attack."

"...Wow... that's quite a violent statement... Are you going back to the time when you were called The Destroyer?"

"It's one of those things Maguro-san said to me. If it's for those important to me, then I would. I don't want to stay as a bystander again like the time Myouga-san and Medaka-san fought. I don't ever want to feel that pathetic again! As the only Junior in the Student Council, I have the responsibility to protect you guys. Regardless of what beast comes out of me, or how people will think of me, I will not hesitate!"

Oh how I wish I could say the same thing.

Still—

"Heh, stop saying such cool things..."

"Hey, would you guys stop saying embarrassing things already, we've been walking in circles for a while now," said Medaka.

"Huh? No way?"

Given that anywhere Zenkichi looked was the same, it was inevitable.

"Ah! I remember seeing that crack in the wall there." Kikaijima pointed to a particular point of the wall.

"Kusu kusu! That's exactly right! You guys have been walking in circles! You guys are currently lost!" The twin guards said, coming out of nowhere.

"Who are you guys again?" Zenkichi asked. Of the length of time that they had talked, he never got to know their names.

"We forgot to introduce ourselves, Unou Tsushima at your service," the twin with the white uniform and white hair said.

"Sanou Tsushima, here to accompany you," the twin with the black uniform and black hair said.

"The 1st floor of this facility is a maze... No! It's a labyrinth!" Sanou said continued by Unou, "No matter how much you regret it, you can't turn back now! So what are you going to do now?"

"09724672409672675602745 (Can I beat them up, their annoying me,)" asked Myouga, punching the palm of a hand with the other with an almost emotionless face.

"424883... (I don't know...)" Zenkichi turned to ask the rest of the group. "What do you guys think?"

"Wait! Don't let her get us!" The twins raised their hands, scared of the prospect of being punched into unrecognizable particles by a super strong pseudo-lolita.

"Why are you guys following us anyway? Acting all cool when you are lost like us."

"You guys broke the door and took our job away! What do you want us to do, sit there and wait for Christmas? This is also the first time we've entered the building!" They said so, complaining and all, but looking closely, especially from their knowing grins, Zenkichi pegged that they wanted to know what the inside of the underground lab looked like. Alternatively, maybe they were just drawn towards Medaka... Either way, such things were normal for him.

"Why did they make this so difficult? Is this a countermeasure against unauthorized entry?" Kikaijima said, ignoring the twins for the important matter at hand.

"No, it' more like the mazes used by scientist to test mice," answered Medaka.

"Wait, so in other words, this entire facility is like one big test lab and we are the mice?" said Akune, worried.

"So what are we going to do, Kurokami-chan? From what I can see, there are many ways to get out of this maze," Nabeshima gave her opinion.

"You mean the one where you put your hand on the left wall and keep going? Although it works, it would take too long."

"Then how about we use Unzen-chan here, she could just punch through the walls," Nabeshima gestured towards Myouga, who in turn puffed her flat chest out proudly, with her two hands on her hips, as she noticed the attention.

"That would be counterproductive. We don't want the clock tower to collapse on us."

Nabeshima nervously laughed, nodding at Medaka's counter argument.

"Treasurer Kikaijima, it's time you use that ability."

"Of course Medaka-san."

"What ability is she talking about, Akune-senpai?" Zenkichi asked, curious.

"Well, during our training with Maguro, he noticed Kikaijima's inhuman lung capacity."

Lung capacity?

"Okay, I will... now then..." Kikaijima took a breath while Nabeshima and Akune covered their ears, and then, "La~a!" she shouted, her loud voice echoing throughout the maze. It made Myouga and the twins cringed in pain, not ready for the loud screech, while Medaka placed her hands on to her ears, contrasting to the others' reaction, trying to listen carefully.

"Phew." And it stopped, though the resulting echoes continued.

"Wow, you're like a human amplifier," Zenkichi said, impressed. However, Myouga and the twins were still holding their ears in pain. "Though next time, you should warn us."

"Sorry," Kikaijima apologized with a bow while blushing.

"But thanks to her, I now have a good reading of the layout of this floor. Follow me! Let's take the closest stairs out of here," revealed Medaka, confidence flowing out of her as she pointed her fan forward.

"Are you serious?"

The group could not help but say, impressed by such feat.

"She did the same as sonar. Bats and whales use it to navigate," Sanou said, still trying to fix his hearing by poking his pinky into his ears.

"In other words, she knows what the labyrinth looks like now due to the rebounding sound waves," Unou added, doing the same thing as his twin.

"There's also atmospheric pressure and wind pressure to consider," said Sanou, "Then again, you need the lung capacity of a monster to make your voice ring throughout the entire floor," then Unou, "And the sharp senses to be able to feel the rebounding sounds and the capacity to make a map out of such obscure sources," and finally they chorused, sticking to their routine of finishing each other's dialogue.

Well that's that. It confirmed Zenkichi's suspicion of Kikaijima being related to the Deep Ones, similar to Namanie. However, in her case, she doesn't know about it, but he was sure that her mother and her estranged father knew... especially the father.

A monster huh...

-000-

"Never knew you had a relative here, Namanie," said Momo as she stared at the single monitor focusing at Kikaijima

"... Hmm... nothing that I know of..." Namanie only cocked her head, somewhat not caring about the subject matter.

"She's a Special right?"

"That's how we classified her..." answered Hansode's grandfather.

"I had suspicion that she had relations with the Deep Ones, she tasted like sushi when I licked her one time." Hansode gave her opinion.

"I read from a report that her father ran away due to family debtsh," Joutou said while checking the manicure on her nails.

"Money problems."

"That'sh not all, her father wash alsho a member of the cult."

"What do you think, Namanie?" Mogura asked.

"My family doesn't correspond with the cult, though we monitor their actions... In my opinion, she's half... or a quarter... can't really judge with insufficient data..."

"Then, can you take her on, Namanie?"

"She's weak... I don't even need to use my swords."

"Well, she could become stronger in the future, especially in water, with all the super regeneration and whatnot."

Mogura had a point, in Hansode's opinion. Not really with swords, but maybe there would be an offensive field that Kikaijima would excel on. Still, it should be checked first whether she would become a threat in the future or not.

"Want to take her as an apprentice, Namanie-san?" offered Kakegae.

"Me... a master... it has a nice ring to it..." Namanie wiggled in excitement while hugging her sword, delighted at the prospect of having an apprentice.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch fish girl when you aren't even a master of your own art yet," Sui rudely said, scoffing at Namanie, raining down on her parade with a thousand bullets of negativity.

"You're just jealous that I have a prospective apprentice, froggy."

"Hmph! It's not my fault that the cult worshiping the Sleeper of N'kai is in America. And if they do come in this country, most of them are already devoid of their humanity."

"That's enough; it is still not set in stone that this Kikaijima girl would become Namanie's apprentice. She might not have an affinity with swordsmanship, you know," Momo said, annoyed by all the bickering.

"... Tsk."

"By the way, what are you holding there, Hansode?" Sui asked as she noticed the device Hansode was holding.

"Hmm... this? It's a remote that controls the underground lab."

"Where did you get that?"

In the underground lab of course! Hansode sarcastically thought, a thought that she would not reveal. Not that it was that shocking.

"Hmm... where did I?" Hansode said while tapping the device to her chin.

Ignoring her last words, Sui continued to ask, "So what does it do...?"

"Well, for one, it changes the perspective on the monitors by controlling the camera on the other side."

"And..."

"That's all I know, I only brought it for that said function."

"...Let me see?" Namanie all of a sudden took the remote from her hand.

"Wait..."

"... Hmm..." Namanie stared at it, particularly interested on a differently colored button in comparison to the others.

"No that's the-"

"Pochitona..." And Namanie pressed it.

"Ahyaaa..." Hansode could only hope that Zenkichi and the others were alright at the end of all this.

-000-

"What's that rumbling noise?" Zenkichi said.

"Everyone run!" Medaka shouted making them put up their guards.

"Huh?"

But it was a huge mistake for them to do so as almost without warning, Medaka saw the floor open up, swallowing Nabeshima, Akune, Kikaijima, the twins, and Zenkichi, leaving Myouga, who managed to jump off the trap, and her in the maze-like first floor, their screams echoing before it closed.

"6429677296? (What happened?)" Myouga asked to no one.

"76924769 (I don't know.)"

-000-

"What the hell did you do, Namanie!?" Sui shouted as she pulled the scruff of Namanie's neckline over the table, shaking her back and forth.

"... What a tweee~est..."

"Twist my beautiful ass, look what happened!" Sui pointed at the monitor showing the aftermath of what happened.

"They're still fine, look, they're sliding like the good kids that they are," Kakegae said calmly as she gestured to a monitor showing such a scene.

"... Pochitona... version 2..." Namanie again pressed another random button.

On that screen, another path opened up as they slid, separating Zenkichi and the twins from the rest.

"What hell is wrong with you!?"

"... Another tweee~est..."

"Aghhh!"

Well, at least Hansode could see Namanie enjoying things.

-000-

Why the hell won't I slide!?

Zenkichi's body was rolling instead of sliding, his head aching from the almost endless bumps he experienced since he got separated from the rest, well... except with those annoying twins who were enjoying their ride beside him.

"Wohooo! This is fun!"

"I feel like a kid again!"

"And... Ow... feel... Ow... like... Ouch!... crap! Gah!"

"A ha ha ha!"

"A ha ha ha!"

However, his seemingly hellish treatment was almost at end as he can see light peeking at the tunnel's horizon, making his body feel at ease for the coming end of such unfair treatment.

Zenkichi could feel the light on his skin as he closed his eyes, emerging from the darkness, which he had descended. Even when he landed, he felt comfort, as soft things, like pudding, but much firmer and elastic, pressing on his face, though he can't help but worry about that particular crashing sound. Still, at such comfort, smelling like the sweet scent of an expensive bubblegum, he forgot all his pains and worries. He even pressed his face much deeper on such holy mounds...

Mounds?

Facing up and opening his eyes, he saw an emotionless girl, though he could see some angry veins on the side of her temple, with a blown bubblegum covering her mouth.

"They were right... You are a pervert..."

Crap!

-000-

Author's Notes

It is decided that I won't write lemons for this fic, well not in this site at least. If I do in the future, I would just post a link.

Now concerning power level comparisons, to that particular reviewer who asked me how Zenkichi would compare to ORT, though I don't have much knowledge of Nasuverse, this is my opinion. Outer Gods encompass the universe; they are even beyond the concept of space and time. Compared to the planetary weapon of the light novel Notes, Aristoteles of Mercury, Type-Mercury, ORT, well, you can imagine. Though, personally, ORT and his fellow Aristoteles are entities based on the Lovecraftian horrors by Type-moon, so maybe, he can be considered as a Great Old One...

Let's have an example by using one of the Elder Gods depicted in anime, Elder God Demonbane. According to one particular image board, the only entity higher than him is Kami-Tenchi, from Tenchi Muyo OVA continuity of course, with ORT some place below some reality altering witches... from what I could remember that is. Moreover, with Elder God Demonbane, a gigantic super robot who could call different versions of itself that defines justice from different realities; it only managed to seal the Outer Gods in some other dimension.

Considering the hints I had sporadically written, ORT would just be cannon fodder to Zenkichi's true form. However, that form would only appear in this story in some convoluted manner, and if it did, it would far in the future.

Whew! That was lot. Hope you get my point and please don't flame me for this. I for one am a fan of Type-moon but comparing the Aristoteles to the cosmic horrors that toyed with advanced alien civilizations since time immemorial there would be no contest.

As for worries for the coming fighting scenes, just refer to the last fights I had written, it would more comedic, especially for Zenkichi's case, and yes, and some of the coming fights would not be one on one. And given that I pulled the 'separate the party' shounen trope, well, expect action from Myouga, Nabeshima, Medaka, Akune, and others.

For those who were expecting of another Summer Story, sorry to disappoint you. You see, I want to spread them all over this story. So expect them sooner.

Well, I think that is all. Hope you are all excited for Otome vs. Zenkichi. Again, thank you for all the reviews, the follows, and the favs. I welcome any criticism and ideas. Have a good day.